I struggle with drawing conclusions on this issue because I don’t simply want to re-state the obvious – that the history of HIV/AIDS would have been very different if it had emerged in a Western country and predominantly affected white, middle-class heterosexuals.

On the other hand, I’m not sure we’ve entirely learned the lesson from that – particularly as we enter a new Dark Age of rampant homophobia, nationalism and racism.

What is that lesson? A handful of points come to mind  – but I’m more than happy to have contributions from others:

1. That our failure to take a global approach will ultimately rebound on us very badly. Investing in the welfare of those less fortunate than us is an investment in our own welfare too.
2. Likewise with bigotry – the belief that the lives of some are more important than others; the belief that some people are more ‘deserving’ of help than others. HIV/AIDS was – and continues to be – treated largely as  moral, rather than a medical issue. This has reduced the life prospects of some people with HIV/AIDS and impaired effotrs to prevent the spread of the disease. Morality has no place in the delivery of health and human services.
3. Similarly, the notion that we ‘can’t afford’ to deliver health and prevention services. I think that part of this is underpinned by morality (the ‘deserving’ and the ‘undeserving’). It’s a false economy on both economic and moral grounds.

As I’ve said, I very much welcome contributions to (or comments about) this list from other people.

Today is World AIDS Day; the day we’re supposed to remember those we have lost as well as reflect on the current issues around HIV/AIDS. I hope that by remembering our past it will inform a better response to our present and future.

There is detailed information on a wide range of HIV/AIDS issues in my book Gay in the 80s. Further information is available here.

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